Propulsion system

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for generating a thrust for use in any environment where thrust is desired as for example for propelling a device whereby the force which moves the device is supplied by the movement inside the device of a mass along a curvilinear path. Since a mass following a curvilinear path necessarily produces a force tending to accelerate the mass toward an instantaneous center of curvature and that force is equal to the mass, expressed in slugs, times the radius, in feet, times the angular velocity squared, in radians/sec., periodic variation of mass, radius or angular velocity of a mass moving in a closed path produces an uncompensated force in a given direction with resultant tendency for movement in that direction. A number of different devices, including devices which utilize the atmosphere being travelled through to interact cyclically with eccentric rotors to produce acceleration and deceleration of the rotor, devices which expel a propulsive fluid after interaction with the rotor to produce cyclic acceleration and deceleration, and devices which produce thrust by cyclic acceleration and deceleration of eccentric rotors through interaction with natural or artifically applied magnetic, electric or thermal gradients, are disclosed.

United States Patent [1 1 McAlister et a1.

[451 Sept. 4, 1973- 1 PROPULSION SYSTEM [76] Inventors: Roy E.McAlister, 5285 N. Red Rock Dr., Phoenix, Ariz. 85018; Theodore J.McAlistcr, Jr., Giscome, B.C., Canada [22] Filed: July 28, 1970 [21]Appl. No.: 58,981

[52] US. Cl. 74/84 [51] Int. Cl. E1611 27/04 [58] Field of Search 74/84,84 S l [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,584,515 6/1971Matyas 74/84 S 1,953,964 4/1934 Laskowitz. 74/84 2,636,340 4/1953Llamozas 74/84 UX 3,555,915 1/1971 Young, Jr. 74/84 PrimaryExaminer-Milton Kaufman Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [57] ABSTRACTMethod and apparatus for generating a thrust for use in any environmentwhere thrust is desired as for example for propelling a device wherebythe force which moves the device is supplied by the movement inside thedevice of a mass along a curvilinear path. Since a mass following acurvilinear path necessarily produces a force tending to accelerate themass toward an instantaneous center of curvature and that force is equalto the mass, expressed in slugs, times the radius, in feet, times theangular velocity squared, in radians/sec., pe-

- riodic variation of mass, radius or angular velocity of a closed.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PROPULSION SYSTEM BRIEF DESCRIPTTON 01THEFIi'IR ART AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to apropulsion system which directs the movement of a mass along'acurvilinear path to produce a net, uncompensated force to cause movementin a given direction.

Machines which move mass are the heart of the modern technologicalsociety and without such machines, civilization in its current formcould not possibly endure. Carrying people, manufactured goods, andcontrolling the environment within which modern man exists, thesemachines are for the most part simple variations or modifications ofold, and for the most part ancient, devices and also, unfortunately,responsible for many of the problems of modern society. The presentinvention relates to a totally new propulsion apparatus and method whichis totally different from existing devices and, at least in certaincircumstances, is a substantial improvement over them.

The invention is based upon the very simple and wellknown principle thata mass following a curvilinear path necessarily accelerates toward theinstantaneous center of curvature. As is well known, this accelerationis equal to the instantaneous radius of curvature times the square ofthe angular velocity, i.e. a r with the acceleration a normallyexpressed in ft./sec. r the radius, expressed in feet and i the angularvelocity, expressed in radians/sec.

Moreover, Newton's fundamental expression that F ma, where F equals theforce, for example expressed accelerating mass will move in response tothe force. I

For a constant mass moving in a closed path such as a circle at aconstant speed each instantaneously created force vector is compensatedfor exactly at each cause' movement of the mass along the direction ofthe uncompensated force. Thus by periodically altering the mass, theradius of movement, or the angular velocity of a rotating mass, thatmass, and whatever is attached to it, can be moved in any givendirection, as selected by the portion of the rotation during which theforce produced is maximized and the portion during which is minimized.

The net force derived from this novel'propulsion system may be expressedas follows:

rFmk-gwdmdrdw where N is the effective number of gyrating members.

m is the instantaneous effective mass which may be a function of anangular displacement 0.

0 is a measure of the angular displacement (measured in radians from aframe of reference fixed to the device employing the McAlisterpropulsion system.

r is th'eeffective radius of gyration of the rotating eccentric and maybea function of 0. v

9 is the angular velocity expressed in radians per second and may be afunction of 0.

Therefore it follows that maximization of the net force F for systems oflimited maximum radius of gyration (r) and of limited maximummassiveness (m) is accomplished by variation of the angular velocity (towhich becomes a quared term (5 by integration. Relatively small cyclicchanges in the angular velocity at average velocities between 10,000 and100,000 rpm become quite large when squared. The following tableillustrates the net derivable force for a system having three rotatingeccentrics having an effective total mass of one-eighth slug(approximately the mass exerting 4 lbf. when weighed), a radius ofgyration of 1 foot, and

being linearly accelerated for 180 and linearly decelerated for 180 tothe tabulated hypothetical maximum and minimum angular speeds.

Maximum Fn Maximum (0, Minimum 0:, Aw,wI-Iw1,, ton -(0 net lbf.=n1rnd./sec. rad./scc.' rad./scc. radfi/secr (accrm-accnn) A number ofspecific methods and apparatus for accomplishi'ng this cyclic variationof one of the three factors which bear upon the force produced aredetailed in the specification below, but many additional ways ofcarrying out this basic principle will be apparent to anyone afterconsideration of the examples set forth. Since, for many applications,the wobble, which necessarily results from the coupling forces producedif only a single rotating mass is employed is undesirable it can beeliminated by employing two or more masses which are rotated together ina manner so that the coupling forces produced are cancelled but theforces in the desired direction of motion are additive. Of course, if itis desired to produce a device which does not move but which insteadproduces a torque, it is quite possible, as discussed below, toconstruct a device whereby the forces favoring motion are cancelledwhile the moments are added to produce a torque which can be applied toa shaft or used in any other way.

One simple way to produce linear motion is to spin two or more rotorshaving their center of mass located remote from their center ofrotation, and spinning the rotors in opposite directions in the sameplane so that the moments produced by the two masses at all timescancel. If the rotors are alternately accelerated and deceleratedtogether, then the rotors and anything attached to them will tend tomove in the direction in which the force is produced while the massesare accelerating, as the forces produced during acceleration will exceedin magnitude the opposing forces produced during deceleration. 7

Even further, to complement or replacea cyclical change in velocity, afluid, such as the atmosphere through which the device is travelling,can be permitted enter and interact with the rotating members during aportion of the cycle of rotation so that the center of mass shiftsduring rotationand consequently the forces produced during rotation onhalf the cycle do not completely cancel the opposing forces producedduring the other half resulting in a net force and movement in onedirection on the other. Even further, magnetic and electrical forces canbe employed to accelerate or decelerate the rotors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a top view of a model ofthe embodiment whereby two rotors are rotated in opposite directions andcyclically accelerated and decelerated;

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a cut-away side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of one of the rotors from the embodiment of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of one of the rotors of FIG.

7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to theFIGS. 1-3 which show an embodiment of the invention which has actuallybeen constructed and operated as a model. In this embodiment, two rotorsand 22, which are preferably indentical, are rotated in oppositedirections as discussed below, and are cyclically accelerated anddecelerated to provide a net force in any chosen direction to causemovement of the device 18 as desired.

The two rotors 20 and 22 are mounted within a stationary vacuum housing24, which provides at least a partial vacuum for the reasons disclosedbelow, for rotation about a shaft 25. A conventional frame 26 which needonly be strong enough to provide rigid support and mechanical stabilityfor the device 18 helps support the motor 27, which spins the two rotors20 and 22 about shaft 25, as well as the other elements connecting themotor 27 to the rotors 20 and 22 as developed below. In the modelconstructed, the frame 26 was made from two old table leg supports of1020 steel. Three wheels 28, 30 and 32 are attached to frame 26 in theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 and are of conventional type. In the modelactually constructed, plastic wheels which had steel pin bearings topermit free rotation about an axle and which were not driven in any waywere used. It is obvious that the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 can,when sufficient thrust is developed, move unaided through the air aswell as along the ground on the wheels 28, 30 and 32. The wheels 28, 30and 32 were provided primarily to test the capability of the device 18as a land vehicle.

The motor 27 connects to the rotors 20 and 22 through a shaft 38 whichmay be held in place if necessary by any conventional means such assupporting bracket 40 shown in FIG. 3. An aluminum tube 42 is alsoprovided about the shaft 38 to furnish additional protection againstdamage and hold the shaft 38 firmly in place. The bracket 40 is boltedto the frame 26 by any suitable means and in the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, conventional bolts are employed. The shaft 38 may be constructedto store potential energy cyclically in a coil spring and is connectedto a differential 50 through a suitable bearing 52 and shafts 54 and 55,driven by the differential 50, connect to two bearings 56 and 58 whichin turn drive rotors 20 and 22, respectively, in opposite directions.

The motor 27 may be any conventional type which is capable of drivingthe two rotors 20 and 22, but it is preferred that the rotors 20 and 22be spun as rapidly as possible to maximize the speed diffrential over asingle rotation and hence the force which is used to propel the device.A Lamb electrical motor IS. 14750, 115V 60Hz, 20,000 RPM Universal,which is a type commonly used in vacuum cleaners, was successfullyemployed. Of course, any means for rotating the rotors 20 and 22 can beused, and it is contemplated that electric motors, gas turbines, pulsejets, two and four cycle piston engines, Sterling engines, ionacceleration engines, fly-wheel storage systems and others will allprove useful in certain applications. One particularly suitable rotatingmeans is described in a copending application by Roy E. McAlister, Jr.Ser. No. 58,934, filed July 28, 1970 entitled Vapor PressurizedHydrostatic Drive, filed concurrently herewith. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 3, a support frame 60, which was constructed of three-eighthsinch thick aluminum plate, was used to support the motor 27 and themotor 27 may, if desired, be thoroughly bolted to the plate 60, which inturn is connected to frame 26.

Further, a helical spring drive 62 is disposed along the shaft 38between the motor 27 and the bearing 52. This spring drive 38, which isa simple spring, stores potential energy during the part of the cycle ofrotation and then releases it during another part so that the motor 27can be driven at a constant speed while the two rotors 20 and 22 arecyclically accelerated and decelerated.

The particular structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 for the rotors 20 and22, which are constructed as identical, is simply two thin sheets, forexample, of onesixteenth inch aluminum, bolted together with small tabswhich have been termed impeller tabs. One such tab is labeled and shownin FIG. 5. These tabs simply serve to hold the two sheets together andto form a unitary rotor. If desired, the rotors 20 and 22 may beconstructed with weights so that the center of mass does not coincidewith the center ofrotation to add additional force to that provided bythe propulsive fluid as discussed below. However, in the embodimentactually constructed, the rotors and 22, were not so weighed and thecenter of mass roughly coincided with the center of rotation.

As mentioned above, the interior of the vacuum housing 24, within whichthe rotating rotors 20 and 22 are moving, is preferably kept at apartial vacuum, for example, by a vacuum pump or any other suitabledevice which may be mounted within the frame 26 or provided exterior toframe 26. Even further, slots in the vacuum housing 24 are a firstintake port 66 on the top of the housing 24 and a second intake port 68on the bottom of housing 24. Cut on one side of the rotors 20 and 22 asshown in FIG. 5 are a number of inlet ports,

three of which are labeled 76, 78 and 80. When the moving rotor, forexample, rotor 20, brings the inlet ports of the rotor 20 such as ports76, 78 and 80 into alignment with the intake port 66, air passes intothe rotor 20 to temporarily shift the center of mass away from thecenter of rotation. This alignment occurs while rotor 20 is acceleratingand also at the same time the holes in rotor 22 are aligning with port68 and rotor 22 accelerating. When the inlet ports move out of alignmentwith the port 66, no further air is admitted and the center of massshifts back to the center. Rotors 20 and 22 are decelerating during thehalf revolution in which no air is admitted. The result of this periodicmass shift and accelerating and deceleration is, of course, anuncompensated force produced by each rotor.

As shown, air is pulled through the rotor ports, including ports 76, 78and 80, which were made on one side of the rotor 20 and the opposite forthe rotor 22, and the air moves through the partially exacuated housing24 through or along the rotor, for example rotor 20, in an arc or superparabolic arc as it has been described. After it reaches the outer edgeof the rotor 20, for example, the air moves out through an exhaust port82 which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Likewise, air introduced andassociated with the lower rotor 22 moves out of an exhaust port 84, alsoshown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

This propulsive fluid, which in the constructed model was simply theatmosphere, is then accelerated by the spinning rotor 20 and vacuumafter entering the intake ports 66 and 68 to a terminal velocity andthen expelled through exhaust ports 82 and 84 roughly Pi radians, or180, later. Thus, for half a revolution this propulsive fluid providesan additional mass on one side of each side of the rotors 20 and 22which further shifts the center of mass away from the center of rotationand causes in effect a net force to be produced which causes motion inthe direction of that net force. During the other half of the revolutionno air is admitted and the center of mass shifts back to the center ofrotation. Two rotors moving in opposite directions are employed in thisembodiment so that no moment or couple about the center of rotationresults from the shift of mass center for each rotor and the center ofmass of both rotors together does not move. The device 18 willaccordingly move roughly in a straight line.

When a model according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5 wasconstructed, the dimension labelled X in FIG. 1 was made to be roughly12 inches while the Y dimension was made 13 inches. The total weight ofthe device was found to be about 8 pounds, 2 ounces, and when a motor ofthe type described above was used to drive the rotors 20 and 22, a totalthrust of about 10 pounds was recorded. Accordingly, it should beapparent that such a thrust was not only sufficient to drive theself-contained model 18 along the ground on the wheels 28, 30 and 32,but could actually lift the device 18 vertically. .7

The advantages and benefits of this unique propulsion system will bereadily apparent. First, the system canbe completely self-contained andclosed with no energy input into the device necessary nor any externaleffect on the environment of the device produced.

Since no atmosphere to push againstis necessary for a vehicle employingthis propulsion system, such a vehicle can operate equally well withinand without the earths atmosphere. Moreover, such a vehicle wouldproduce no pollutants to poison the atmosphere, would operatesoundlessly and would be easily maneuverable in three dimensions.Lifting vertically upward at any speed, hovering indefinitely and movingboth horizontally and vertically could be simply accomplished byadjusting the plane of rotation of the rotors. Since no communicationwith the ground is necessary to move along the ground or land or sea thevehicle can without any modification move vertically in the air.

Even further, the extreme simplicity of this device,

tages. The total weight, of course, depends on the optimum speed ofrevolution offered by the primary power source. Relatively slow sourcessuch as piston engines will require speed increasing transmissions whilehigh speed electric motors and turbines offer almost ideal operatingspeeds and accordingly require essentially no weight increase.

A number of operational advantages for such a vehicle are also expected.For example, clutches and flywheels are not needed as the starting loadconsists only of bearing friction and inertia of the rotating parts, notthe full inertia of the vehicle. Full operation speed may be attainedbefore variation of the radius, angular velocity or mass is initiated ifdesired. Further, the primary power source may be allowed to operate atessentially constant speeds by utilization of torque shafts, springs orother members which convert rotational kinetic energy to torsionaldisplacement potential energy (elastic displacement) cyclically duringthe rotors accelerationand deceleration.

The ease in maneuvering such a vehicle shouldalso be apparent. Changingthe direction of thrust in the plane of motion is simply a matter ofchanging the angular intervals of acceleration and deceleration of therotors or altering the cycle of any other of the features varied. Thus,guidance and reversed thrust may be accomplished without the necessityof extra propulsive control appendages such as flaps, spoilers,stabilizers or clam shells. Altitude control may be effected byutilization of coupled forces derived by making the angular intervals ofacceleration and deceleration in two rotors at parallel planes(maximized by greatest separation) opposite for like rotating members,and alike for oppositely rotating members.

It should be pointed out that the energy for driving the massescyclically in any of the ways described above can be supplied from anysource. In addition to the arrangements described above using travelingwave explosion fronts to cause cyclic acceleration and deceleration ofeccentric rotors where the explosions are contained within guidingshrouds and employing superconductors to carry electricity to accelerateand decelerate rotors or cause phase changes are two other alternatives.

it should be emphasized that this invention finds utility not only forpropelling a vehicle but in any machine which employs thrust tooperateThis invention can be used to move rods, spin shafts and rotatedevices'to list a few possibilities and the list of applications extendsto any device which employs a thrust for any purpose.

Even further, it is contemplated that some of these constructions willbe combined to improve efficiency and power.

Many changes and modifications of the embodiment will be clear to anyoneof ordinary skill in the art, and

accordingly the scope of the invention is intended to be limited only bythe scope of the attached claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of moving a machine comprising the steps of:

moving a part and a fluid medium within said machine along a curvilinearpath so that said part accelerates toward an instantaneous center ofcurvature; and

cyclically increasing and decreasing the mass of said fluid medium tochange the magnitude of the acceleration toward the center of curvatureso as to produce a net force on said machine in a given direction tocause said machine to move in that given direction including expellingat least a portion of said fluid medium from said machine after said netforce has been produced.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of changing includes the stepof cyclically increasing and decreasing the radius of gyration of saidfluid medium.

3. A method of propelling a machine comprising the steps of:

spinning a pair of rotors mounted within said machine in oppositedirections in parallel planes so that the coupling moments produced byone of said rotors is instantaneously cancelled by the coupling momentsproduced by the other of said rotors; and alternately accelerating anddecelerating said rotors to produce a net force in a given direction andresultant motions in said given direction including the step of causingfluid to flow through a portion of each of said rotors during part of acycle equal in length to the time or a multiple thereof required tocomplete said interval of rotation so that a second net force insaid-given direction is produced. 4. A method as in claim 3, wherein atleast two rotors are mounted in the same plane.

1. A method of moving a machine comprising the steps of: moving a partand a fluid medium within said machine along a curvilinear path so thatsaid part accelerates toward an instantaneous center of curvature; andcyclically increasing and decreasing the mass of said fluid medium tochange the magnitude of the acceleration toward the center of curvatureso as to produce a net force on said machine in a given direction tocause said machine to move in that given direction including expellingat least a portion of said fluid medium from said machine after said netforce has been produced.
 2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step ofchanging includes the step of cyclically increasing and decreasing theradius of gyration of said fluid medium.
 3. A method of propelling amachine comprising the steps of: spinning a pair of rotors mountedwithin said machine in opposite directions in parallel planes so thatthe coupling moments produced by one of said rotors is instantaneouslycancelled by the coupling moments produced by the other of said rotors;and alternately accelerating and decelerating said rotors to produce anet force in a given direction and resultant motions in said givendirection including the step of causing fluid to flow through a portionof each of said rotors during part of a cycle equal in length to thetime or a multiple thereof required to complete said interval ofrotation so that a second net force in said given direction is produced.4. A method as in claim 3, wherein at least two rotors are mounted inthe same plane.